Bernina Express day trip from Bellagio?

Short summary – read this first

John is planning a 10-day stay in Bellagio and wants to take the Bernina Express on a day trip. He needs advice on the accessibility and timing for traveling from Bellagio to Tirano and then onto the Bernina Express, especially whether it can be done in a single day.

Key takeaways:
  • Make sure to leave early for your trip to fit everything in one day.
  • Check the ferry and train timetables beforehand, as connections can be tight.
  • Consider making the journey to Pontresina or Chur for a better experience, as both are beautiful destinations.
  • Remember to look into the Swiss Travel Pass for discounts on travel.
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  • Anonymous
    Inactive
    77267 posts
    19 July 2016 at 9:35:16 #809717

    Next week we are staying in Bellagio for 10 days.

    We would like to travel on the Bernina Express but I am unsure of the accessibility from Bellagio and the exact timings of departures and returns.

    Ideally we’d do a round trip from Bellagio > Tirano (via Ferry to Varenna and train to Tirano) then a trip on the Bernina Express.

    Is this feasible, in a day, either all the way to Pontresina and back or Chur and back?

    Any help gratefully received thank you

    John

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  • Annika
    Moderator
    7263 posts
    Reply 1 of 2 • 20 July 2016 at 6:16:58 #854346

    Thanks for joining MySwissAlps John, welcome!

    A single trip from Varenna to Pontresina using the Bernina Express route takes about 3h30 to 4h. You’ll have to add the time to cross the lake by ferry from Bellagio to Varenna, which I think is about 15 minutes. More information on this leg of the route should be available at http://www.navigazione laghi.it/. Now, to answer your question: it’s doable as a day trip, but only if you don’t mind a long day of traveling and if you leave early. The timetable will help you find all possible connections between Varenna and Pontresina/Chur and back. You don’t have to add any “via-stations”, since the Bernina Express route via Tirano is the default route anyway.

    Does this get you started?

    User
    Inactive
    77267 posts
    Reply 2 of 2 • 21 July 2016 at 12:55:08 #854347

    Thank you for this. The timings look a bit tight (Varenna > Tirano FS gets in 8 minutes before the Tirana BEX leaves and there seems to be a bit of a walk between the two stations) I think, from Bellagio, it may be too much to attempt in one day but we’ll see

    You’ve been very helpful though

    Thanks

    John

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